Unless the Giants want to risk losing ground on the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West, they should consider acquiring an outfielder in the near future. And fortunately for the Giants’ sake, Curtis Granderson of the New York Mets is available.

Around this time last season, the San Francisco Giants were playoff-bound. And about a month later, on October 28, 2012, the Giants were crowned as the World Series champs for the second time in three years.

But 2013 has been a humbling season for a team that won 94 games just a year ago. The Giants finished 10 games below the .500 clip in 2013 and witnessed injury-plagued seasons from Ryan Vogelsong, Marco Scutaro, Pablo Sandoval and Angel Pagan. Oft-ace Matt Cain also posted a perplexingly lackluster campaign, hurling an 83 ERA+—41 points below his career rate.

The Giants were quick to look towards 2014, however. This past Saturday, the team announced a five-year, $90 million extension for outfielder Hunter Pence. Pence enjoyed an elite 2013 season, hitting to the tune of a 137 OPS+, 7.5% BB%, 27 HR and 22 SB.

Based on his recent production, in which he accumulated a 4.1 bWAR, Pence is easily worth $18 million per season. In fact, his 2013 season was worth $22.55 million. But considering Pence will be 31 on Opening Day 2014—and more importantly, 35 years old in the final season of his new contract—the Giants will quickly regret their desperate signing. Continue reading →